King Lear : Act 3, Scene 3
Enter GLOUCESTER and EDMUND.
GLOUCESTER 1 Alack, alack, Edmund, I like not this unnatural 2 dealing. When I desir'd their leave that I might
3 pity him, they took from me the use of mine own
3. pity him: i.e., aid King Lear. they: i.e., Regan, Lear's second daughter, and her husband, the Duke of Cornwall.
4 house; charged me, on pain of their perpetual 5 displeasure, neither to speak of him, entreat for 6 him, nor any way sustain him. EDMUND
7 Most savage and unnatural! GLOUCESTER
8 Go to; say you nothing. There's a division betwixt
8. Go to: an expletive —Here it seems to mean "Stop!" say you nothing: i.e., don't say a word about it; it's dangerous. >>>.
9 the dukes; and a worse matter than that: I have 10 received a letter this night; 'tis dangerous to be 11 spoken; I have locked the letter in my closet:
11. closet: study, private room.
12 these injuries the king now bears will be revenged 13 home; there's part of a power already footed: we
13. home: thoroughly. power: armed force.
14 must incline to the king. I will seek him, and
14. incline to the king: take the king's side.
15 privily relieve him: go you and maintain talk with
15. privily relieve him: privately give him aid and comfort.
16 the duke, that my charity be not of him perceiv'd. 17 If he ask for me, I am ill, and gone to bed. 18 Though I die for it, as no less is threatened me,
18. though I die: i.e., even if I die.
19 the king my old master must be relieved. There is
19. relieved: helped.
20 some strange thing toward, Edmund; pray you, be careful.
20. toward: coming.
Exit.
EDMUND
21 This courtesy, forbid thee, shall the duke
21. courtesy: act of kindness. forbid: forbidden.
22 Instantly know; and of that letter too: 23 This seems a fair deserving, and must draw me
23. This . . . deserving: i.e., betraying my father is something which should deserve a reward.
24 That which my father loses; no less than all:
23-24. must draw . . . than all: must win myself all that my father loses, which will be everything he has.
25 The younger rises when the old doth fall. Exit.